Device for fastening and electrical contacting of a vehicle window pane

ABSTRACT

A device for fastening and electrical contacting of a vehicle window pane with an integrated electrical functional element. The device includes a pane adapter fixed on the window pane; a pane holder that couples the pane adapter with a vehicle body; a pane-side plug that establishes electrical contact with the functional element when the window pane is assembled; and a pane-side coupling shoe for mounting the pane-side plug on the window pane. The device further includes a mating plug that couples with the pane-side plug to provide electrical contact of the functional element to a control unit. The pane adapter, the pane-side coupling shoe, the pane holder, and a plug holder that supports the mating plug, are kinematically coupled so that during assembly of the window pane using the pane adapter on the pane holder, the pane-side plug is connected to the mating plug.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/563,541 filed on Sep. 29, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,230,195issued on Mar. 12, 2019, which is the US national stage of InternationalPatent Application PCT/EP2016/064572 filed on Jun. 23, 2016, which inturn claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2015 214 377.5filed on Jul. 29, 2015, all of which are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

The invention relates to a device for fastening and electricalcontacting of a vehicle window pane, in which at least one electricalfunctional element is integrated.

In motor vehicles, in particular in automobiles, vehicle window panes(referred to in the following for short as “vehicle panes”) withelectrical functional elements are frequently used. Such functionalelements are frequently a pane heater, as used in most motor vehicles ina rear window pane. To also be able to free front windows and,optionally, also side windows of condensed and possibly frozen moisture,pane heaters are also sometimes used in front windows and side windowsin modern vehicles. Alternatively, or in addition to a pane heater,other functional elements are sometimes used in a window pane. Theseare, for example, so-called “electro transparent”, in particularelectrochromic layers, which, upon changing an electrical controlvoltage applied to the layer, result in a color change (darkening) or anopacification of the vehicle pane—in particular in terms of protectionfrom the sun or undesirable looking into the vehicle.

Electrical functional elements regularly require establishing contactwith an associated control unit for controlling and supplying power.Frequently, this contacting is undertaken separately after assembly ofthe respective vehicle pane on the vehicle body, for example, byconnecting a pane-side plug to a (control-side) mating plug or pane-sideconnection contacts are fixedly connected (for example, by soldering) tocorresponding contacts of the control unit.

The object of the invention is to simplify the assembly of a vehiclewindow pane with an integrated electrical functional element on avehicle body.

This object is accomplished according to the invention by a device withthe features of the claims. Further advantageous embodiments andimprovements of the invention, sometimes inventive per se, are set forthin the subclaims as well as the following description.

The device according to the invention is used for fastening andelectrical contacting of a vehicle window pane (in the following, forshort: “vehicle pane”), in which at least one electrical functionalelement is integrated. The device (referred to in the following as“fastening device”) includes a pane adapter that is constructed for(preferably irreversible) fixing on the vehicle pane. The fasteningdevice further includes a pane holder that is constructed for couplingthe pane adapter with a body of the vehicle (in the following: “vehiclebody”). The fastening device further includes a pane-side plug (in thefollowing, for short: “pane plug”) that, in the intended assembledstate, establishes electrical contact with the functional element of thevehicle pane. The fastening device further includes a pane-side couplingshoe that is constructed and provided for mounting the pane plug on thevehicle pane, and that is, in the intended assembled state, affixeddirectly or indirectly on the vehicle pane. Moreover, the fasteningdevice includes a mating plug that is constructed and provided to becoupled to the pane plug for the electrical contacting of the functionalelement with a control unit. The fastening device further includes aplug holder for mounting the mating plug. The pane adapter and thepane-side coupling shoe as well as the pane holder and the plug holdersupporting the mating plug are kinematically coupled such that, duringassembly of the vehicle pane on the vehicle body, i.e., during assemblyof the vehicle pane using the pane adapter on the pane holder, the paneplug is preferably connected automatically (i.e., in particular withoutfurther action) to the mating plug. Also, an elastic stop element thatis constructed to apply a coupling force for the intended coupling ofthe pane plug with the mating plug during assembly of the vehicle paneis arranged on the pane-side coupling shoe or on the plug holder. In theintended assembled state (of the vehicle pane on the vehicle body), thepane-side plug and the mating plug are mounted (at least along anassembly direction, along which the window pane with the pane holder isto be connected) on the pane-side coupling shoe or on the plug holderwith play (i.e., at least slightly displaceable along the assemblydirection).

This mounting with play is, in particular, enabled by the elastic stopelement. The mounting with play is thus preferably always done, in theintended assembled state, on the component (coupling shoe or plugholder), on which the elastic stop element is arranged. In other words,the pane plug is mounted (is guided) with play (displaceably,“floatingly”) on the coupling shoe if the elastic stop element isarranged on the coupling shoe. Accordingly, in this case, the matingplug is preferably mounted without play on the plug holder (associatedtherewith), directly above the pane plug but with play on the couplingshoe. In an alternative embodiment, the mounting with play in theintended assembled state is preferably done on the plug holder, if theelastic stop element is arranged on the plug holder. Accordingly, in alast embodiment variant, the pane plug is fixed, in particular, withoutplay, on the coupling shoe. Preferably, the pane plug is also alreadymounted in the assembled state not completely as intended (but, rather,in a partially assembled state) of the vehicle pane (i.e., when this isnot yet installed on the vehicle body) with play on the coupling shoe(or, in an alternative embodiment, the mating plug is mounted with playon the plug holder).

Here and in the following, the terms “pane plug” and “mating plug” mean,in particular, components corresponding to one another, which, on theone hand, include necessary electrical contacts for establishingelectrical contact, and also, on the other, a plug body surrounding theconnector contacts, which is implemented for preferably media-tight and,in particular, captive coupling (connection) with the plug body of thecorresponding other component. In principle, in the context of theinvention, the captive coupling can be implemented by a frictionconnection between the pane plug and the mating plug (i.e., inparticular, between their plug bodies), with the separating forcerequired for separating the coupling (i.e., the frictional force presentbetween the plug bodies) being preferably greater than forces usuallyacting on such plugs during the operation of a vehicle. Preferably,however, the pane plug and the mating plug have corresponding latchingelements, by means of which they are, in particular, positively latchedto one another, in the intended assembled state.

Due to the kinematic coupling of the pane adapter with the coupling shoeas well as that of the plug holder with the pane holder, “blindassembly” of the vehicle pane on the vehicle body is advantageouslyenabled. In other words, during assembly of the vehicle pane, anassembler does not have to pay attention to the fact that, in additionto the coupling of the pane adapter with the pane holder, the pane plugalso couples with the mating plug, but can instead insert the pane inone process step and, in particular, in a simple manner into the vehiclebody or into the pane holder—the electrical contacting of the functionalelement occurs automatically (by itself). Thus, an additional processstep for electrical contacting is eliminated, by which means theassembly of the vehicle pane is simplified.

Because of the fact that the pane plug and the mating plug coupledtherewith are mounted with play in the intended assembled state, it isalso advantageously prevented that during operation of the vehicle (forexample, in particular while driving on an uneven, bumpy roadway)relative movements between the vehicle pane and the pane holder, whichare frequently unavoidable due to manufacturing tolerances, are nottransferred to the electrical connection contacts of the mating plug orthe pane plug. Instead, during such relative movements, the plugscoupled to one another (i.e., the pane plug and the mating plug) movetogether along the coupling shoe (or the plug holder). Thus, wear of theelectrical contacts as well as an undesirable separation of the paneplug from the mating plug is advantageously avoided, and, hence, thefunctional reliability of the functional elements integrated in thevehicle pane is increased.

In a preferred embodiment, the elastic stop element is, in particular,arranged on the coupling shoe. In other words, in the intended assembledstate, the pane plug (and the mating plug coupled thereto) is mountedwith play on the coupling shoe. The coupling shoe is preferablyimplemented as a type of “guide sleeve”, which is oriented along theassembly direction and in which the pane plug (preferably even in thepartially assembled state) is displaceably arranged along the assemblydirection. The elastic stop element forms a stop limiting thedisplacement path of the pane plug in the direction toward the vehiclepane, against which the pane plug runs during coupling with the matingplug. In other words, the pane plug is displaced against this stop bythe mating plug during assembly. Thus, the coupling force required forcoupling the pane plug with the mating plug is built up.

In an expedient embodiment, the elastic stop element is implemented suchthat the coupling force that is required for the intended coupling ofthe pane plug with the mating plug is less than an assembly forcerequired to achieve the intended assembled state of the vehicle pane onthe vehicle body. In other words the elastic stop is, in particular,implemented such that during assembly of the vehicle pane, initially,the coupling force for the intended coupling of the pane plug with themating plug must be expended against the elastic stop element and,following that—to form the intended assembled state of vehicle pane—anassembly force exceeding the coupling force must be overcome. Thisassembly force likewise results, for example, from resistance of theelastic stop element against deformation. Thus, it is advantageouslyaccomplished that the pane plug and the mating plug are coupled asintended before the vehicle pane is installed as intended on the vehiclebody. Thus, it is possible, in a simple manner, to avoid the pane plugbeing only inadequately coupled to the mating plug in the intendedassembled state of the vehicle pane.

In a particularly expedient embodiment, the pane adapter and the paneholder are designed such that when the required assembly force isreached, latching (i.e., positive coupling) between the pane adapter andthe pane holder is implemented. To that end, the pane adapter and thepane holder preferably have corresponding latching elements, which latchpositively with one another when the assembly force is reached. Forexample, the assembly force required for latching results in this casefrom a structural design of the latching elements, i.e., from aresistance of the latching elements against movement. Alternatively, theassembly force is based on the resistance of the elastic stop element,but preferably on a combination of the resistance of the latchingelements and of the elastic stop element.

In order to enable simple monitoring of the intended assembled stateduring assembly of the vehicle pane on the vehicle body, the elasticstop element is, in an advantageous embodiment, constructed andprovided, to emit acoustic and/or haptic feedback (in particular, to theassembler of the vehicle pane) for signaling the intended assembledstate of the vehicle pane on the vehicle body. Acoustic feedback ispreferably a cracking or clicking sound. Haptic feedback is, forexample, a load peak occurring when the required assembly force isreached with a subsequent significant decrease of the opposing forceoccurring during assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, the elastic stop element is implemented suchthat, in the intended assembled state of the vehicle pane on the vehiclebody, the mounting with play of the pane plug as well as the mating plug(in particular on the coupling shoe) is free of force along the assemblydirection of the vehicle pane at least in a region of approx. 1 to 3 mm(i.e., down to negligible, friction-based force components). In otherwords, the elastic stop element frees the pane plug and the mating plugcoupled therewith in the intended assembly position in (is thus“decoupled” therefrom) such that the mating plug and the pane plug inthe intended assembled state can move both in the direction of thevehicle pane and away from it, in particular with play of approx. 1 mmto 3 mm. Thus, in the event of relative movements between the vehiclepane and the pane holder, which frequently run in the intended assembledstate, in particular, in a design related fashion along the assemblydirection of the vehicle pane, no force is exerted on the connectionbetween the pane plug and the mating plug.

In an embodiment conceivable, in principle, in the context of theinvention, the elastic stop element is at least one pin-like projectionthat is preferably connected in one piece (using injection moldingtechnology) to the coupling shoe (or, optionally, to the plug holder)and is structurally designed such that, when the required assembly forceis reached, it breaks off from the coupling shoe (or the plug holder)and thus enables movement of the pane plug (as well as of the matingplug coupled thereto) beyond the stop originally formed by theprojection.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the elastic stop element is,however, a spring. The use of the spring advantageously enables repeatedapplication of the coupling force as well as, optionally, the assemblyforce, in particular if the vehicle pane must be replaced, for example,because of damage.

In another preferred embodiment, which is, in particular, advantageousif, in the intended assembled state, the pane plug and the mating plugcoupled therewith are mounted free of force in the coupling shoe (or,optionally, on the plug holder), the spring is, in particular, bistable.Here, “bistable” means that the spring has two stable states, in whichit assumes, in each case, different positions along the assemblydirection. The spring is, in particular, implemented roughly like a“clicking frog”. In its first state, the spring is preferably arrangedon the coupling shoe (or, optionally, on the plug holder) such that itforms the aforedescribed stop for coupling the pane plug with the matingplug. In this first spring position, during assembly of the vehiclepane, the pane plug (or, optionally, the mating plug) runs against thespring such that the coupling force is formed. Consequently, this firstspring position is also referred to as the “stop position”. When theassembly force (which is transferred from the pane plug coupled with themating plug to the spring) is reached, the spring changes suddenly toits second state and, thus, to a second spring position (also referredto as the “release position”). In this release position, the spring is,in particular, decoupled from the pane plug and the mating plug coupledtherewith such that the two plugs are mounted with play. When the springis arranged on the coupling shoe, it is expediently arranged in therelease position with less distance from the vehicle pane than in thestop position.

Expediently, the spring is implemented, in particular, as a hoop-like oryoke-like curved (arched) spring strip, that is arched toward the paneplug or the mating plug in the stop position and is arched away fromthem in the release position. At the time of the sudden change from thefirst state into the second state, the spring also preferably emits aclicking sound like a clicking frog as acoustic feedback.

In an expedient embodiment, the pane adapter is integrally connected tothe pane-side coupling shoe, and the pane holder is integrally connectedto the plug holder for the mating plug. In particular, these are in eachcase plastic components produced with injection molding technology.Thus, further assembly effort can be saved since in each case only onecomponent has to be fastened on the vehicle pane or on the vehicle body.

In an alternative embodiment conceivable in the context of theinvention, the pane adapter and the coupling shoe as well as the paneholder and the plug holder are implemented as components separate fromone another and (kinematically) coupled to one another in each caseduring assembly using the vehicle pane or adjacent body components.

In another alternative embodiment, the pane adapter and the couplingshoe as well as the pane holder and the plug holder are likewise eachimplemented separately. However, in this case, the pane adapterpreferably has connecting means for connecting to the coupling shoe and,correspondingly, the pane holder has connecting means for connecting tothe plug holder such that for vehicle panes without an electricalfunctional element, only the pane adapter and the pane holder can beused. For vehicle panes with an electrical functional element, the paneadapter and the pane holder are in each case expediently augmented bythe coupling shoe (with the pane plug mounted therein) or the plugholder (with the mating plug mounted thereon).

In another expedient embodiment, the pane plug in the intended assembledstate (and preferably also in the intended “pre-assembly state”, i.e.,when only the pane plug is installed on the vehicle pane) iselectrically contacted with the functional element of the vehicle panesuch that relative movement between the pane plug and the vehicle paneis possible. This is, in particular, advantageous when the pane plug ismounted with play in the (pane-side) coupling shoe. The contacting ofthe pane plug with the functional element is advantageously designedsuch that, with relative movements between the pane plug and the vehiclepane, a force effect on the contact points between the pane plug and thefunctional element or wear of these contact points is avoided orsuppressed. Preferably, for this, the functional element of the vehiclepane is contacted with a conductor made of foil referred to as a “flatconductor”. This foil conductor carries, in particular, a plurality ofconductor tracks implemented as layers for contacting with the paneplug. Expediently, this foil conductor is folded at least oncemeanderingly between the vehicle pane and the pane plug at least suchthat, like a “slack rope”, a “slack length” is formed for compensatingrelative movements between the pane plug and the vehicle pane. The foilconductor is, in turn, preferably guided by means of a“zero-insert-force-connector” onto the pane plug. Alternatively, theconnection contacts of the pane plug are fixedly connected to theconductor tracks of the foil conductor, in particular, soldered. Thefoil conductor is, for example, inseparably connected to the functionalelement (e.g., soldered or conductively glued). Alternatively, the foilconductor or a different type of connection cable is fixed on the paneside in a contact holder floatingly connected to the pane adapter. Thiscontact holder preferably has flexible spring contacts that are pressedon the functional element by the contact holder, in particular on itselectrically conductive components. The floating connection of thecontact holder to the pane adapter is advantageously designed such thata contact force is applied between the contact springs and thefunctional element, but that, at the same time, the contact holder isalmost completely decoupled, at least transversely to this contactforce, by movements between the pane adapter and the vehicle pane or thefoil conductor (or the connection cable).

In another expedient embodiment, the pane adapter and/or the pane holderhas at least one guide web with one or a plurality of abutting inclinesfor centering the pane adapter relative to the pane holder duringassembly. Preferably, the pane adapter has, in particular, two guidewebs with, in each case, an abutting incline, between which the paneholder is inserted during assembly to limit play transverse to theassembly direction. The pane holder has lead-in inclines complementaryto the abutting inclines of the two guide webs. Furthermore, thecoupling shoe preferably also has lead-in inclines for centering themating plug during assembly. By means of the abutting inclines or thelead-in inclines as well as the guide webs, manufacturing-relatedtolerances in the kinematic coupling of the pane holder with the plugholder or the pane adapter with the coupling shoe are advantageouslycompensated and, thus, blind assembly is further facilitated.

In principle, in the context of the invention, the vehicle pane can be awindshield or a rear window of the vehicle. However, preferably, thewindow pane is an adjustable side window pane. In this case, in apreferred embodiment, the pane holder is constructed and provided forthe movable (in particular, displaceable) coupling of the vehicle panewith the vehicle body, in particular with a window lifter mechanism ofthe vehicle. The pane holder is preferably a guide element (alsoreferred to as a “pane carrier”), which, in the intended assembledstate, forms part of the window lifter mechanism. The pane holder servesin this case, in particular, for guiding the vehicle pane between aclosed position and an open position.

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention are explainedin detail with reference to drawings. They depict:

FIG. 1 in a schematic perspective view, a device for fastening andelectrical contacting a vehicle window pane in an unassembled state,

FIG. 2 in a view according to FIG. 1, the device in an intendedassembled state,

FIG. 3 in a schematic plan view in a partially broken view, the devicein a first assembly step,

FIG. 4 in a view according to FIG. 3, the device in a second assemblystep,

FIG. 5 in a view according to FIG. 3, the device in a third assemblystep,

FIG. 6 in a view according to FIG. 3, the device in the intendedassembled state,

FIG. 7 in a sectional view VII-VII according to FIG. 6, the device,

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 in a schematic plan view, in each case, two componentsof the device according to an alternative exemplary embodiment.

Corresponding parts are always provided in all figures with the samereference characters.

FIG. 1 depicts a device for fastening (referred to in the following as“fastening device 1”) of an only partially depicted vehicle window pane(referred to for short in the following as “vehicle pane 2”).Specifically, the vehicle pane 2 is a side pane of a vehicle that isconstructed to be mounted in a (side) door of the vehicle displaceableby means of an (electric) window lifter. A functional element 4 (in thepresent exemplary embodiment, an electrochromic layer for variabledarkening of the vehicle pane 2) is integrated in the vehicle pane 2,sandwich-like between two pane elements 3. The fastening device 1 servesin this case both for mechanically coupling the vehicle pane 2 in thedoor of the vehicle and for electrical contacting of the functionalelement 4 with a control unit associated therewith. For this, thefastening element 1 includes two assemblies, of which one assembly isassociated with the vehicle pane 2 and the other assembly is associatedwith the vehicle body, specifically the window lifter.

The pane-side assembly includes an element referred to as “pane adapter5”, which, in the partially assembled state depicted in FIG. 1, isfixedly connected to the vehicle pane 2 (specifically, by a glued bond).In addition, the pane-side assembly includes a guide housing referred toas “coupling shoe 6” for a pane plug 7 (likewise associated with thepane-side assembly). The window-lifter-side assembly includes a holdingelement referred to as “pane carrier 8” (or also as “pane holder”) whichserves for holding the vehicle pane 2 and for transferring force fromthe window lifter to the vehicle pane 2. Furthermore, thewindow-lifter-side assembly includes a plug holder 9 as well as a plugarranged in the plug holder 9 and referred to as “mating plug 10”. Inthe present exemplary embodiment, the plug holder 9 is manufactured inone piece with the pane carrier 8 as an injection molded component madeof plastic. Likewise, the pane adapter 5 is implemented in one piecewith the coupling shoe 6 and as a plastic component using injectionmolding technology.

For the mechanical coupling between the pane adapter 5 and the paneholder 8, the pane adapter 5 has an opening referred to as “latchinghole 12”. The pane carrier 8 has, for the mechanical coupling, a bottompart 14 and a top part 16, which are positioned clawlike opposite oneanother and which, in the intended assembled state according to FIG. 2,surround the pane adapter 5 on its upper and lower side. A latchingprojection 18, which, in the intended assembled state according to FIG.2, engages in the latching hole 12 of the pane adapter 5, is implementedon the top part 16. For assembly, the vehicle pane 2 is inserted withthe pane adapter 5 along an assembly direction 20 between the bottompart 14 and the top part 16 of the pane carriers 8. The latchingprojection 18 serves for latching the pane carrier 8 on the pane adapter5 against separation. To limit the insertion path of the pane adapter 5into the pane carrier 8, a stop shoulder 22 is implemented on the panecarrier 8.

In order, during assembly of the vehicle pane 2, to align the panecarrier 8 with the pane adapter 5, specifically the latching projection18 with the latching hole 12, two guide webs 24 are arranged on the paneadapter 5, which cooperate during assembly with guide surfaces 26 formedlaterally on the top part 16 for guiding the pane carrier 8 in assemblydirection 20. To simplify assembly, the intermediate space between theguide webs 24 is expanded funnel-like by abutting inclines 27 arrangedon the ends of the guide webs 24 facing the pane carrier 8. The top part16 has, on its free end, correspondingly implemented lead-in inclinessuch that during insertion of the pane adapter 5 into the pane carrier 8a slight misalignment transverse to the assembly direction 20 can becompensated.

As a result of the one-piece design of the plug holder 9 with the panecarrier 8 or of the coupling shoe 6 with the pane adapter 5, automaticcontacting of the functional element 4 with the control unit associatedtherewith is enabled during assembly of the vehicle pane 2.Specifically, during assembly of the vehicle pane 2, the mating plug 10and the pane plug 7 are automatically coupled with one another (i.e.,without further action of an assembler) and the electrical contacting isimplemented. For further simplification of assembly, two guide webs 28with lead-in inclines are also implemented on the coupling shoe 6—as canbe seen in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

To minimize an effect of relative movements between the vehicle pane 2and the pane carrier 8 parallel to the assembly direction 20 on theconnection contacts of the pane plug 7 and of the mating plug 10,specifically to suppress wear, in the intended assembled state accordingto FIG. 2, the pane plug 7 is mounted in the coupling shoe 6 movablealong the assembly direction 20, i.e., with play. Thus, the mating plug10, coupled, in the intended assembled state, with the pane plug 7, isalso mounted movable relative to the coupling shoe 6. In order tonevertheless enable captive coupling of the pane plug 7 with the matingplug 10 during assembly of the vehicle pane 2, an elastic stop elementin the form of a bistable spring 30 is arranged in the coupling shoe 6(cf. FIG. 3). The bistabile spring 30 has in its first (stable) springstate a position referred to as “stop position 32”, in which thehoop-like arched spring 30 is arched forward along the assemblydirection 20 in the direction of the pane plug 7 (cf. FIG. 3). In itssecond spring state, the spring 30 assumes a spring position referred toas “release position 34”, in which it is arched in the direction of thevehicle pane 2 (cf. FIG. 5).

Now, during the assembly of the vehicle pane 2, in a first assembly step(cf. FIG. 3), the pane adapter 5 is inserted between the bottom part 14and the top part 16 of the pane carrier 8 and centered, in the process,by means of the guide webs 24. The plug holder 9 with the mating plug 10arranged thereon is also centered relative to the coupling shoe 6 bymeans of the guide webs 28 thereon and the pane plug 7 comes intocontact with the mating plug 10. During further insertion of the vehiclepane 2 or the pane adapter 5 into the pane carrier 8, the pane plug 7 isinserted—movably guided in the coupling shoe 6—by the mating plug 10farther along the assembly direction 20 into the coupling shoe 6, untilthe pane plug 7 with shoulders 36 (arranged on the back) runs againstthe spring 30 (i.e., strikes it). Resistance is applied on the pane plug7 by the spring 30 (upon further insertion of the vehicle pane 2),resulting in the fact that the pane plug 7 is latched to the mating plug10 by means of latching elements (not shown in detail). The forcerequired for latching the pane plug 7 to the mating plug 10 to beapplied against the spring 30 is also referred to as “coupling force”.The coupling force is less than a force required to suddenly change thespring 30 from the stop position 32 to the release position 34.

The stop position 32 of the spring 30 is selected such that the latchingprojection 18 of the pane carrier 8 cannot yet lock into the latchinghole 12 of the pane adapter 5. Thus, it is advantageously accomplishedthat, during assembly of the vehicle pane 2, the coupling of the paneplug 7 with the mating plug 10 and, hence, the electrical contacting ofthe functional element 4 with the associated control unit occurs first,before the vehicle pane 2 is fixed as intended in the pane carrier 8. Itis thus ensured that at the time the vehicle pane 2 is latched asintended, electrical contacting of the functional element 4 has alreadyoccurred.

For the intended assembly of the vehicle pane 2, it is thus pushed,after the coupling of the pane plug 7 with the mating plug 10, fartherin the direction of the pane carrier 8 such that the shoulders 36 of thepane plug 7 are pressed farther against the spring 30 until the forcenecessary for suddenly changing the spring 30 is exceeded. The spring 30suddenly changes from its stop position 32 into the release position 34,and the pane plug 7 as well as the pane carrier 8 move farther along theassembly direction 20, with latching of the latching projection 18 withthe latching hole 12 then occurring (cf. FIG. 5 and FIG. 2).

As is discernible from FIG. 6, in the intended assembled state of thevehicle pane 2, by means of the sudden changing of the spring 30 to therelease position 34, there is play between the shoulders 36 and thespring 30 along the assembly direction 20 such that relative movementsbetween the vehicle pane 2 and the pane carrier 8 remain without effecton the connection between the pane plug 7 and the mating plug 10.

During the assembly of the vehicle pane 2, a force-displacement curve isproduced which initially hardly rises until the pane plug 7 restsagainst the spring 30. Then, the force to be applied for furtherassembly increases, until the pane plug 7 initially engages with themating plug 10. Thereupon, the force increases further untilsubsequently (upon reaching the assembly force) the spring 30 suddenlychanges, whereupon the pane adapter 5 also engages with the pane carrier8. When the spring 30 suddenly changes, it moreover emits, like aclicking frog, an acoustic feedback, specifically a clicking sound, withsignals the intended assembly of the vehicle pane 2 to an assembler.

In order to be able to mount the pane plug 7 movably relative to thevehicle pane 2, the pane plug 7 is movably contacted with the functionalelement 4. For this, the functional element 4 is contacted with a foilconductor 40, which is routed out of the vehicle pane 2 between the paneelements 3. In order to enable movement of the pane plug 7, the foilconductor 40 is meanderingly folded such that a “slack length” (like aslack rope) is retained. By means of an adapter piece 42, whichspecifically forms a “zero-insert-force-connector”, the foil conductor40 is electrically connected to the connection contacts arranged in thepane plug 7. In order to protect the foil conductor 40 againstmechanical influences as well as environmental influences, specifically,moisture, a cap 44, in extension of the coupling shoe 6, is connected tothe pane-side assembly, specifically to the coupling shoe 6. This cap 44covers the foil conductor 40 sealingly with the vehicle pane 2.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 depict an alternative exemplary embodiment of thefastening device 1, specifically, the pane-side assembly as well as thewindow-lifter-side assembly. In both cases, the component of therespective assembly associated with the electrical connection isimplemented separately from the component mentioned for the mechanicalconnection. In other words, the pane adapter 5 is implemented separatelyfrom the coupling shoe 6 (as well as the cap 44 arranged thereon).However, the pane adapter 5 and the coupling shoe 6 have mutuallycomplementary connecting elements 50 (indicated schematically), by meansof which they can be connected to one another (cf. FIG. 8). As isdiscernible from FIG. 9, the window-lifter-side assembly is implementedaccordingly. In other words, the pane carrier 8 is implementedseparately from the plug holder 9, and both have, in each case, mutuallycomplementary connecting elements 52 (indicated schematically) for theoptional coupling of the plug holder 9 with the pane carrier 8.

The subject matter of the invention is not limited to the aforedescribedexemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the person skilled in the artcan derive other embodiments of the invention from the abovedescription. In particular, the individual features of the invention andtheir variant embodiments described with reference to the variousexemplary embodiments can also be combined with one another differently.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

-   1 fastening device-   2 vehicle pane-   3 pane element-   4 functional element-   5 pane adapter-   6 coupling shoe-   7 pane plug-   8 pane carrier-   9 plug holder-   10 mating plug-   12 latching hole-   14 bottom part-   16 top part-   18 latching projection-   20 assembly direction-   22 stop shoulder-   24 guide web-   26 guide surface-   27 abutting incline-   28 guide web-   30 spring-   32 stop position-   34 release position-   36 shoulder-   40 foil conductor-   42 adapter piece-   44 cap-   50 connecting element-   52 connecting element

The invention claimed is:
 1. A device for fastening and electricalcontacting of a vehicle window pane in which at least one electricalfunctional element is integrated, the device comprising: a pane adapterthat is configured to be fixed on the vehicle window pane, the paneadapter comprising a latching hole; a pane holder that is configured tocouple the pane adapter with a vehicle body, the pane holder comprisinga latching projection; a pane-side plug that, in an intended assembledstate, is configured to establish electrical contact with the at leastone electrical functional element of the vehicle window pane; apane-side coupling shoe configured to mount the pane-side plug on thevehicle window pane; and a mating plug that is configured to couple withthe pane-side plug to provide an electrical contact of the functionalelement with a control unit, wherein the pane adapter, the pane-sidecoupling shoe, the pane holder, and a plug holder that supports themating plug, are kinematically coupled so that during assembly of thevehicle window pane using the pane adapter on the pane holder, thepane-side plug is connected to the mating plug, wherein latching betweenthe pane adapter and the pane holder in the intended assembled state isprovided by engaging of the latching projection in the latching hole,and wherein the pane-side plug, in the intended assembled state, allowsa relative movement between the vehicle window pane and the pane-sideplug.
 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pane adapter isintegrally connected to the pane-side coupling shoe, and the pane holderis integrally connected to the plug holder.
 3. The device according toclaim 1, wherein at least one of the pane adapter and the pane holderhas at least one guide web comprising at least one abutting incline, theat least one guide web configured to center the latching hole of thepane adapter relative to the latching projection of the pane holderduring assembly.
 4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the paneholder is constructed for movable coupling of the vehicle window panewith the vehicle body.
 5. The device according to claim 1, wherein thepane holder comprises a bottom part and a top part that are positionedclawlike opposite one another, so to surround a lower side and an upperside of the pane adapter, and wherein the latching projection isimplemented on the top part of the pane holder.
 6. The device accordingto claim 5, wherein the pane adapter and the pane holder are designed sothat upon achieving the required assembly force, latching between thepane adapter and the pane holder is provided.
 7. The device according toclaim 1, wherein, on at least one of the pane side coupling shoe and theplug holder, an elastic stop element is arranged that is configured,during assembly, to apply a coupling force for coupling of the pane sideplug with the mating plug.
 8. The device according to claim 7, whereinthe elastic stop element is constructed to emit at least one of anacoustic and a haptic feedback for signaling the intended assembledstate of the vehicle window pane on the vehicle body.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 7, wherein the elastic stop element is implemented sothat, in the intended assembled state of the vehicle window pane on thevehicle body, no force is exerted on a mounting with play of thepane-side plug and the mating plug along an assembly direction of thevehicle window pane.
 10. The device according to claim 7, wherein theelastic stop element is a spring.
 11. The device according to claim 10,wherein the spring is a bistable spring having two stable states.
 12. Adevice for fastening and electrical contacting of a vehicle window panein which at least one electrical functional element is integrated, thedevice comprising: a pane adapter that is configured to be fixed on thevehicle window pane, the pane adapter comprising a latching hole; a paneholder that is configured to couple the pane adapter with a vehiclebody, the pane holder comprising a latching projection; a pane-side plugthat, in an intended assembled state, is configured to establishelectrical contact with the at least one electrical functional elementof the vehicle window pane; a pane-side coupling shoe configured tomount the pane-side plug on the vehicle window pane; and a mating plugthat is configured to couple with the pane-side plug to provide anelectrical contact of the functional element with a control unit,wherein the pane adapter, the pane-side coupling shoe, the pane holder,and a plug holder that supports the mating plug, are kinematicallycoupled so that during assembly of the vehicle window pane using thepane adapter on the pane holder, the pane-side plug is connected to themating plug, wherein latching between the pane adapter and the paneholder in the intended assembled state is provided by engaging of thelatching projection in the latching hole, wherein, on at least one ofthe pane side coupling shoe and the plug holder, an elastic stop elementis arranged that is configured, during assembly, to apply a couplingforce for coupling of the pane side plug with the mating plug, andwherein the elastic stop element is constructed to emit at least one ofan acoustic and a haptic feedback for signaling the intended assembledstate of the vehicle window pane on the vehicle body.
 13. A device forfastening and electrical contacting of a vehicle window pane in which atleast one electrical functional element is integrated, the devicecomprising: a pane adapter that is configured to be fixed on the vehiclewindow pane, the pane adapter comprising a latching hole; a pane holderthat is configured to couple the pane adapter with a vehicle body, thepane holder comprising a latching projection; a pane-side plug that, inan intended assembled state, is configured to establish electricalcontact with the at least one electrical functional element of thevehicle window pane; a pane-side coupling shoe configured to mount thepane-side plug on the vehicle window pane; and a mating plug that isconfigured to couple with the pane-side plug to provide an electricalcontact of the functional element with a control unit, wherein the paneadapter, the pane-side coupling shoe, the pane holder, and a plug holderthat supports the mating plug, are kinematically coupled so that duringassembly of the vehicle window pane using the pane adapter on the paneholder, the pane-side plug is connected to the mating plug, whereinlatching between the pane adapter and the pane holder in the intendedassembled state is provided by engaging of the latching projection inthe latching hole, wherein, on at least one of the pane side couplingshoe and the plug holder, an elastic stop element is arranged that isconfigured, during assembly, to apply a coupling force for coupling ofthe pane side plug with the mating plug, and wherein the elastic stopelement is a bistable spring having two stable states.